Rotary filing apparatus



April 12, 1966 F. N. LORTIE ,24 ,5

ROTARY FILING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV ENTOR.2 FRANK N. LORTIE BY JM4 4 -A M,%MWi 2x% his ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,245,545 ROTARY FILING APPARATUS Frank N. Lortie, Oakland,Calif., assignor to Wassell 0rganization, Inc., Westport, Conn., acorporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 397,443 9 Claims.(Cl. 2111.5)

This invention relates to filing systems, and more particularly, to anovel and improved rotary file apparatus of the type accommodating avery large number of cards in such a way that they are readily availablefor reference and are easily and quickly removed and replaced byoperators at any one of a number of operating stations.

Filing systems in which information is carried on small cards such as 3x 5, 4 X 6 or x 8 inches, for example, are in common use. Such systemsmay consist of trays or drawers in a cabinet. For very large numbers ofcards, however, filing equipment has been devised in which the cards arearranged in one or more concentric annular rows or in rows alignedgenerally radially on a rotatable circular file. A card may be referredto or located and removed by rotating the circular file until an indexedlocation is brought abreast of an operator stationed at a desk at theperimeter of the file.

When a circular file of the above-described type includes severalconcentric annular card-receiving rows, considerable difficulty isencountered by the operator both in locating and, more importantly, inremoving and replacing the cards. More particularly, the fartherinwardly toward the center of the axis of rotation of the circular filethe cards are located, the more diflicult it is to seek out the desiredcard because it is located farther away from the operator who musttherefore reach out for it and because it must be viewed at a moreoblique angle than the cards nearer the perimeter of the file. Operatorsof large filing systems of the above-described type quickly becomefatigued from stretching and twisting to view and locate and then removeand replace cards and, moreover, are subject to chronic stiffness andpains which recur after only short periods of operating the file system.Accordingly, rotary file systems generally include only one or twoconcentric annular card receiving areas adjacent the circumference ofthe file in order to reduce the difficulty of reaching and viewing thecards, but when the number of annular rows of cards, is reduced, thecapacity of a given overall floor area occupied by a unit is similarlyreduced.

One use of card filing systems is the warranty card system used bymanufacturers or distributors of appliances and the like, the warrantyinformation cards carrying information for the use of a central serviceorganization. A very efficient method of handling large numbers ofservice requests consists of large card file systems having severaloperator stations. Incoming service request calls are routed to anoperator at one of the stations who then ascertains the identity of theowner and the type of device to be serviced. She then locates thewarranty card for the particular device, removes it, and makes suitablearrangements for a repairman to make a service call, such as bypreparing an order form.

For such an operation to be carried out efficiently, as many cards aspossible should be contained in the file in order not to delay assistingthe owner of the device to be serviced while the warranty card is beinglocated. With the greatly increasing numbers and types of appliances inuse and the corresponding increase in service calls in recent years, thewarranty card system is becoming more and more of a problem. Animportant requirement for efiicient operation of the system is that theinformation be centralized as much as possible, thus requiring filesystems of large capacity, and that the operators be able to locate andremove a card as quickly as possible, in order to release the filingsystems so that other operators may locate and remove cards on otherincoming service requests.

One way of increasing the capacity of a circular card file of theabove-described type without significantly increasing the ditficulty ofsearching and removing the cards is to increase the diameter, thusincreasing the linear space accommodating the cards. The disadvantagesof this solution, however, are that floor space is less efiiciently usedas the size of the circular file increases, the card capacity increasingin direct proportion to an increase in file diameter but the floor spacearea increasing at a rate of the square of the diameter increase, andthat the file diameter is limited to the height of a standard door,files having a greater height not susceptible of convenient installationin an ofiice.

Another way to increase the number of cards which may be carried in asingle rotary file system, is to mount several of the circular filesvertically one over the other, each of which is rotatable and each ofwhich contains one or two annular rows of cards. This way of increasingthe capacity of a file unit is disadvantageous for a number of reasons.For example, the circular files must be widely separated vertically inorder that space enough remains for thumbing through, for viewing andfor reaching into the file to withdraw the cards. Accompanying the widespacings, of course, is a corresponding reduction in the utilization ofspace. Moreover, physical difiiculties resulting from stretching,twisting and reaching, this time in the vertical direction, similar tothose described above, are also encountered with several verticallysuperimposed circular files.

The foregoing and other disadvantages of the present filing systems andparticularly known types of rotary files are overcome, in accordanceWith the invention, by providing a novel and improved rotary filingapparatus in which very large numbers of cards are readily accommodatedand are available at a larger number of operator stations and in whichcards can easily and quickly be located, removed and replaced. Therotary filing apparatus of the invention comprises a support memberrotatable about a vertical axis, and a plurality of circular files eachrotatably mounted on the support member. The circular files arepreferably mounted on the support member in such a way as to be readilyremovable and replaceable, thus enabling changes of the circular files,for example, to allow substitution of files of differing sizes, filescarrying different-sized cards, or files for different arrangements ofcards or other information recording media. Further, the easyinstallation of the circular files permits a gradual increasing of thecapacity by initially providing only a part of the total number of filesand then adding files later as the need arises, or alternatively, byinitially providing files of smaller diameter and later replacing themwith larger files.

The circular files are arranged in two vertically superimposed tiers,the axes of rotation of each of the files of each tier lying on a circleconcentric to the axis of rotation of the support member, and the axesof rotation of the files of one tier staggered in relation to the axesof rotation of the files of the other tier,

Each of the circular files includes suitable dividers for receiving thecards. For example, the files may have concentric circular dividersdefining two or more annular concentric card receiving rows, each of thedividers having a height substantially less than the next inwardlycircular divider, and a plurality of radially extending dividers in eachof the annular rows. Alternatively, dividers can be arranged to providea plurality of generally radially aligned rows. Instead of dividers,suitable bracketing or guides can be provided for mounting drawers ortrays on the circular files. In addition to cards, file folders or bookscan also be filed in the rotary filing apparatus of the invention.

Larger file units will generally have a powered drive for rotating thesupport member, whereas smaller units will have a hand rail for manualrotation.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made tothe following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunctionwith the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the rotary filing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the filing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG, 3 is a plan view of another embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 3, partly insection, which is taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3, segments of theapparatus being removed for improved clarity of illustration.

Referring next to a typical embodiment of the invention with referenceto FIGS. 1 and 2, a rotary filing apparatus includes a generallycylindrical base 10 having a plurality of spaced-apart mounting feet 12for supporting the apparatus on a fioor 14. The base 10 comprises alower frame structure (not shown) on which a vertical shaft 18 ismounted such as by welding angles 20 to the shaft and the frame.Rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 18 is a support member 26 whichincludes a central sleeve 28 received on the shaft and having aplurality of radially extending tapered arms 32 welded or otherwisesecured thereto. The lower end of the sleeve rests on a thrust bearing36 which is afi'ixed to the shaft.

Six arms 32 on the support member 26 diverge radially at equal radialspacing (60 apart). Aflixed to the ends of alternate arms 32 arerelatively short vertical spindles or shafts 42 and affixed to theremaining arms 32 are longer vertical shafts 43. Each shaft is arrangedto carry a rotatable circular file 46, the short shafts 42 carrying thefiles 46 in a lower tier immediately adjacent the support member and thelonger shafts 43 carrying the files 46 in an upper tier. In other words,the filing apparatus has two vertically superimposed tiers of circularfiles, the files of each tier being staggered in relation to the filesof the other tier because they are mounted on alternate shafts.

The circular files are installed on the shafts in such a Way as to beeasily and quickly installed, and also removed and replaced. Thus, theymay be simply carried on the shafts without any retaining means, asillustrated, in which case, they are adequately held on the shafts bytheir own weight, or suitable securing means such as bolts threaded ontothe ends of the shafts may be provided. Easy installation andremovability enables expansion of the units as needed or replacement ofthe files with others of different sizes or carrying different sizes orarrangements of cards or other types of records.

The shafts 42 and 43 are preferably arranged to lie on a circleconcentric to the central shaft 28 of the filing apparatus, in otherwords, equidistant from the shaft 28 so that the outermost points on thefiles will describe a single circle when the support member is rotated.Accordingly, any one of the files can be moved abreast of any of aplurality of operator station units 48, one of which is located radiallyoutward of each file 46, and will be positioned at the same relativeposition with respect to that unit as any other file. The operatorstation units comprise desks and chairs (not shown) for the operatorsand any telephone or other communciation equipment and the like usefulin the operation of the file system.

All of the circular files 46 have the same diameters, the diametersbeing such that only a small distance exists between the points ofclosest approach of the files of each tier. Accordingly, the maximumcard capacity for a given floor area occupied by the filing apparatus isobtained.

Each of the circular files 46, best shown in FIG. 1, and

file 46' in another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,in which elements similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 have been identifiedby primed reference numerals, comprises a base plate 56 which has acentral opening receiving a sleeve 52. The sleeve 52 is surrounded by atop plate 54 and is positioned on the shaft 42, with suitable bearings(not shown) between the sleeve 52 and the shaft 42 to facilitate therotation of the files.

The circular files 46 include two concentric annular card receiving rowsadjacent the perimeter of the base plate 50. The inner row is defined byan inner circular divider 56, which extends downwardly from theperimeter of the top plate 54, and by an intermediate circular divider58. The outer annular row is defined between the intermediate divider 58and an upwardly extending circular flange 60 formed about the perimeterof the base plate 50. The circular dividers 56 and 58 and the flange 60are, respectively, of decreasing height to facilitate the replacement ofcards in the circular file,

The annular card receiving rows are subdivided into radial segments by,first of all, major radial dividers 62 which extend outwardly from theinnermost circular divider 56 to the outer flange 60 and secondly, byadditional radial dividers (not shown), to further subdivide eachsegment defined between the major dividers 62. Such additional dividersmay have tabs to be received in slots 64 (as shown in the lowermostcircular file of FIG. 3) formed in the base plate 50 and slots 66 in theinner circular divider 56. Accordingly, the user may readily install theadditional dividers if desired, or may omit them, as shown.

The embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the rotary filing apparatus includes,in addition to the small diameter circular files 46, an upper largediameter circular file 68. The main support shaft 18, accordingly,extends upwardly and receives the large diameter file 68 on a thrustbearing 70. The file 68 is substantially the same in structure as thesmall diameter circular files 46' except for the arrangement of radialdividers. The provision of the supplemental large diameter fileincreases the capacity of the FIGS. 3 and 4 embodiment of the invention.

In use, any one of the circular files 46 is brought abreast of any oneof the operator station units 48 by rotating the support member 26. Inthe embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 the support member 26 is arranged formanual rotation by the provision of a handrail attached to the radialarms 32 of the support member 26. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, apower drive for the support member 26' is provided which includes a gear82 secured on the lower end of the central sleeve 28 of the supportmember 26', a reduction gear unit 84 coupled to the gear 82 and a motor86 driving the reduction gear unit.

The support member 26 may be selectively driven to bring a givencircular file 46' to a desired position by providing a control systemwhich includes a control unit 88 at each operator station unit 48.Control systems suitable for this purpose are well known to thoseskilled in the art and therefore need not be described in detail herein.

The rotary filing apparatus, according to the invention, provides anumber of very significant advantages over the presently known filesystems. For one thing, each circular file is of relatively smalldiameter and therefore may be rotated with a minimum of effort, being ofrelatively light and simple construction, and can easily be assembledand disassembled. More importantly, the filing capacity of the totalprojected floor area accom-- modated by the filing unit and within agiven reach dimension of an operator is very greatly increased. Forexample, a pair of vertically stacked, large diameter circular fileshaving two annular card-receiving rows accommodates cards only at anarrow annular band at the perimeter.

In the filing apparatus of the invention.

of similar overall diameter, cards are carried in several pairs ofannular card-receiving rows which extend into the interior region of theunit and therefore occupy a relatively large proportion of the projectedfloor area of the unit. It is thus apparent that the filing apparatus ofthe invention can, within a given overall volume of space, accommodate alarger number of cards than presently known units used for similarpurposes.

A further advantage of the filing apparatus is that the cards are morereadily viewed and removed than in conventional systems. The circularfiles are relatively small and therefore have a relatively largecurvature. Thus, the outer edges of the cards are not as tightly packedas in larger circular files and can accordingly be spread or flippedthrough more easily and more Widely to facilitate viewing the indexedinformation therein. Moreover, the files of each tier can be relativelyclosely spaced vertically and the cards in each tier are accordinglyviewed along similar lines by sight rather than the widely varying linesof sight afforded by conventionally stacked large diameter circularfiles.

Another feature of the rotary filing apparatus according to theinvention is that the distance an operator must reach to locate andwithdraw cards is small. More particularly, the support member isrotated to bring a circular file adjacent the operator. When aparticular file is adjacent the operator, it will be necessary for herto reach across only one outer row at most, and because the largerdiameter outer card row contains a substantially larger number of cardsthan the inner row, cards being sought will more frequently be in theouter row and she will have to reach only a short optimum distance.Moreover, the vertical reach required differs only between the twotiers, which will generally be, at most, about 4 or 5 inches. Therefore,it will be unnecessary for .an operator to reach over a range of, say,not more than 6 to 8 inches laterally and 4 to 5 inches vertically.

Another advantage of the apparatus is its versatility. Moreparticularly, a purchaser may initially require only a relatively smallpart of the total possible capacity of the filing apparatus. In thiscase, the unit when purchased may include only one tier of circularfiles or, alternatively, only two or three of the circular files of eachtier, thus reducing the initial capital outlay for the filing apparatus.As the need for additional card space increases, additional circularfiles can be added. Also, small diameter files can initially be providedand then gradually replaced by larger ones. The ease of removability andreplacement of the circular files facilitates expansion of capacity andchange in the information media filed.

The filing apparatus of the invention is also less costly to manufactureand install. More particularly, the individual units, particularly, thecircular files 46, 46, are relatively small in size compared topresently known circular files. Therefore, they need not be asstructurally strong and can be constructed of lighter gage metals orplastics. Moreover, the elements of the apparatus, because of theirrelatively smaller size, can more easily be transported and can readilybe assembled in place.

It will be understood that the above described embodiments of theinvention are meant to be merely exemplary and are susceptible of manymodifications and variations by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. All suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included within thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A rotary filing apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed supportmember rotatable about a vertical axis,

a plurality of vertical shafts afiixed at equally spaced-apart locationson said support member and spaced at equal distances from the axis ofrotation of said member, a plurality of circular files arranged in afirst tier and rotatably mounted on alternate ones of said shafts and aplurality of circular files arranged in a second tier and rotatablymounted on the remaining shafts, the files of said second tier overlyingsubstantial segments of the adjacent files of said first tier.

2. A rotary filing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of saidcircular files includes dividers defining a plurality of card-receivingrows.

3. A rotary filing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said circularfiles are remova bly received on said vertical shafts.

4. A rotary filing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising acentral vertical shaft, said support member being mounted on said shaft,and a rotatable circular large diameter file mounted at the upper end ofsaid central shaft above said second tier.

5. A rotary filing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprisingpowered means for selectively rotating said support member.

6. A rotary filing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising anoperator station unit positioned radially outwardly of and adjacent eachof said circular files.

7. A rotary filing apparatus comprising a support member rotatable abouta vertical axis, a plurality of vertical shafts mounted on said supportmember, the shafts being spaced from each other and from the axis ofrotation of said member, a plurality of first circular files arranged ina first .tier and rotatably carried by alternate ones of said shafts anda plurality of second circular files arranged in a second tier androtatab'ly carried by the remaining shafts, the files of said secondtier overlying substantial segments of the adjacent files of said firsttier.

8. A rotary filing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the outermostpoints, with respect to the said vertical axis of the support member, onthe perimeters of the circular files are substantially equidistant fromthe said vertical axis.

9. A rotary filing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the verticalshafts are substantially equidistant from the axis of rotation of thesupport member and wherein the circular files are of substantially thesame diameter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,290 11/1915Koken 108-94 1,208,457 =l2/1916' Bellville 10894 2,411,950 12/ 1946Yzetta 211-13l X 2,493,538 1/1950 Karns 211129 3,084,007 4/ 1963 Fuller312-402 X 3,142,521 7/1964 Petroff 108-94 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, PrimaryExaminer.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

7. A ROTARY FILING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER ROTATABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL SHAFTS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, THE SHAFTS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF FIRST CIRCULAR FILES ARRANGED IN A FIRST TIER AND ROTATABLY CARRIED BY ALTERNATE ONES OF SAID SHAFTS AND A PLURALITY OF SECOND CIRCULAR FILES ARRANGED IN A SECOND TIER AND ROTATABLY CARRIED BY THE REMAINING SHAFTS, THE FILES OF SAID SECOND TIER OVERLYING SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENTS OF THE ADJACENT FILES OF SAID FIRST TIER. 